Combination lock



Feb. 21, 1933. R. J. SOU'II'HCOTT COMBINATION LOCK Filed Aug. 25, 1930 F/GJ.

lNVf/VTOR R. J. 50U7'HC07'7I Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES RICHARD JOHN SOUTHOOTT, OLE TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA connnvnrion LOOK Application filed August 25, 1930. Serial No. 477,721.

My invention relates to improvements in combination locks, and the object of the invention is to devise a combination lock adaptable to the ordinary ignition switch, which will lock such switch in the open. position without any modification or the circuit itself, which will be positive and effective in operation, and which will be simple, cheap and compact, and it consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view on line 1-1 Fig. 3 showing the parts in the locked position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing the device in the partially unlocked position and showing the dial and knobs 15 and 22 by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

1 indicates a cylindrical casing provided in its base 2 with a central orifice 3 having an enlarged or recessed portion 4: formed in the lower face of the bottom 2. The top of the casing 1 is open and provided with an annular surrounding flange 5. 6 is a cylindrical stem fitting the orifice 3 at its lower end and provided at such lower end with a threaded portion 7 upon which a circular nut 8'is screwed, such nut fitting within the recess a and locked from turning by a set screw 9 and also with projections 7 fitting recesses 2 formed in the upper face of the bottom 2.

The upper end of the cylindrical stem is provided with an enlarged portion 10 forming an external shoulder 11 and an internal shoulder 12. 13 is a turnable shaft forming the operating member of the ignition switch. The upper end of the shaft 13 is provided with an enlarged portion 14 bearing upon the internal shoulder 12 of the stem 6 at its lower end and provided at its upper end with an operating knob 15. The lower end of the shaft 13 isthreaded as indicated at 16 upon which is screwed a nut 17 between which and the bottom 2 of the casing'is located a spring washer 18 holding the lower end of the enlargement 14, seated against the shoulder 12.

19 is a dial provided with a suitably graduated surface 20. The dial 19 is provided with a short stem portion 21 carrying a turn- 5 ing knob 22 by which the position of the dial is controlled. The knob 22, stem 21 and dial 19 are provided with a central orifice 23 extending therethrough provided with an enlarged upper portion 24: forming a shoulder 25 against which the lower end of the enlarged portion of the stem 6 forming the shoulder 11 bears.

26 is an annular flange extending around the upper end of the orifice 23 and against which the lower face of the knob 15 is held in frictional engagement by the spring washer 18 so as to retain the dial in the position to which itis adjusted. A cylindrical portion formed by a series of annular members 27 28, 29 and 30 connected together and to the dial by screws 21 and which form the operating members of the lock. The members 27, 28, 29 and 30 are provided respectively with inwardly extending projections 27", 28 29 and 30".

The shaft 13 is provided with a diametric slot 31 and the stud 6 with diametrically opposite slots 32 and 33 which, when the parts are in the locked position, register with the slot 31. The wall-of the stem on'one side of the slot 32 is preferably recessed'or cut away as indicated at 34. 35, 36, 37 and 38 are a series of locking pawls each provided with a locking projection 35 extending through the slot 32 and into the slot 31 when in the locking position. One end of each of the pawls 35 to 38 is provided with a head 36 and the opposite end with a tail piece 36 carrying a leaf spring 39 which projects at its free end above the body of the pawl. Each pawl 35 to 38 is provided with an outwardly extending tongue 37.

40 and 41 are two members of an operating lever, the opposing ends of the members 40 and 41 being provided with reduced portions 10* and 41, the reduced portion 40 forming a shoulder 10 extending transversely across the member. The reduced portions 40 and 41* are pivotedtogether by'means of a screw stud 42 which extends through the reduced portions 40 and 41 of all of thelevers 35, 36, 37 and 38 and into the bottom 2 of the easing 1 and thereby forming the pivot or fulcrum for each of such levers.

The reduced portion 41 shoulders at its internal lower corner against the shoulder 40 so that a clockwise movement of a member 41 forces the whole lever to swing upon its pivot formed by the stud 42 and a counter-clockwise movement permits the member 41 swinging freely also in a counter-clockwise direction independently of the member 40. Each member 40 is provided with a head 43 carrying a leaf spring 44 and each member 41 with a tail piece 45 adapted to engage the end of the spring 44 when the member 41 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction.

46 is a pawl re-engaging member pivoted upon a screw 47 extending into the bottom 2 of the casing. The free end of the member 46 is provided with cam surfaces 48 and 48 with which the projection 3O of the ring coacts to operate the same. The member 46 is provided with an upwardly extending post 49 adapted to engage the heads 36 as will hereinafter appear, to force the released pawls into their locking position. 50 is an indicating mark formed on the upper face of the flange 5 and coacting with the graduations of the dial 19 when the device is operated.

,Having described the principal parts invol'ved in my invention I will briefly describe the operation of the same.

It will be noted that the projections 30, 29, 28 and .27 are located adjacent the dial numbers 7 10, 15 and 17. When operating the lock these numbers are brought successively opposite the indicating mark 50 as in any combination lock. After the projection 30 has been carried to a corresponding position with the numeral 7 of the dial the dial is then turned in a clockwise direction until the projection engages the tail piece 45 of the lever member 41.

By the continued rotation of the dial the pawl 38 is swung on its pivot formed by the screw 42 carrying the opposite end of the lever outward thereby lifting the locking projection of the corresponding pawl out of engagement with the slot 31. Simultaneously by this movement the free end of the spring 39 is compressed against the lever member and when the locking projection 35 is drawn clear of the slot 31 the pawl is swung forward upon its pivot X by the expansion of the compressed spring 39 so that the end of the locking projection is carried clear of the slot 31 so as to bear upon the cylindrical stem 6 within the recesses 34.

After this operation is completed the numeral 10 is carried by a counter-clockwise movement of the dial opposite to the indicating mark 50, the projections 30 and 29 r being allowed to pass the corresponding tail pieces 45, such tail pieces swinging in a counter-clockwise direction around their pivot during the passage of such projections thereby. When the tail piece is carried in the above direction it is brought into engagement with the end of the spring 44 which is compressed and as the projection is carried clear of the tail piece such tail piece is swung back to its normal position by the resilience of the spring 44. The dial is then again turned in a clockwise direction so that the projection 29 engages its corresponding tail piece so as to operate its corresponding lever and pawl to carry such pawl to the unlocked position previously described. It will be understood that the annular members 27 28, 29 and 30 may be secured together in any desired position so that the projections 27 28 29 and 30* may be arranged in any desired position and spaced any desired distance apart. If it is desired that all projections 27 28 29 and 30 operate in identically the same manner they could be spaced closer together than shown in the drawing so that the projections 28* and 27 could be carried by a counter clockwise movement past the tail piece before the engagement of the projection 30 with the pawl 46 by the same movement. If these projections are spaced so far apart and in such a position that the projections 27 and 28 cannot engage the tail pieces 45 without the member 46 being tripped by the projection 30*, then the dial may be turned in a clockwise direction to carry the projections 27' and 28 to the unlocking position engaging the tail piece 45, such projections passing over the member 46.

The shaft 13 is then released and can be turned by the knob 15 so as to operate the ignition switch to the closed position. When it is desired to again relock the shaft 13 in the open position, such shaft is first turned to the switch opening position that is with its slot 31 in diametrical line with the slot 32 and with the graduation 6 of the graduated surface 20 in radial alignment with the indieating arrow 50. The dial 19 is then turned so as to carry the projection 30 into engagement with the cam surface 48 thereby forcing the member 46 inward around its pivot 47 carrying such member and the post 49 into engagement with the heads 36 of all the pawls forcing them in corresponding direction in carrying the locking projections thereof into position to re-engage the slot 31 thereby relocking the device.

If the lock is operated by an unauthorized person and one of the pawls released the continued rotation of the dial in a clockwise direction would carry the projection 30 into engagement with the cam surface 48 of the relocking member 46 so as to force it inward against the head of the disengaged pawl reengaging it as the projection 30 passes the relocking member thereby preventing the releasing of the look by a continuous rotation I of the dial.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple device which may be easily operated, which will efiectually lock the switch in the open position whenever desired and which is simple, cheap and efficient.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft, of a casing through which the shaft extends, a dial turnably mounted on the casing, a plurality of locking means located within the casing and adapted toindependently lock the shaft from rotation when turned clockwise, means actuated by the turning of the dial for releasing the locking means individually each at a separate predetermined point in the dials rotation, and means for returning the locking means to the engaged position actuated by turning the dial counterclockwise past its normal position.

2. In a combination lock the combination with a shaft, of a casing through which the shaft extends, a dial turnably mounted on the casing, a plurality of locking means located within the casing and adapted to independently lock the shaft from rotation when turned clockwise, means actuated by the turning of the dial for releasing the locking means individually each at a separate predetermined point in the dials rotation, means for returning the locking means to the engaged position actuated by turning the dial counter-clockwise past its normal position, and also for returning the locking means to the engaged position when the dial is turned clockwise past its lock releasing position.

3. In a combination look, a casing, a plurality of locking pawls pivoted in the casing, a shaft extending through the casing and so formed as to receive the locking pawls, a rotatable dial mounted on the casing, means operated by a plurality of clockwise and return rotations of the dial for carrying the pawls successively to a retained unlocked position, and means actuated by continuing such return movement in either direction for returning the released pawls to-the locking position.

4. In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft, of a casing through which the shaft extends, a dial turnably mounted in the casing, a cylindrical member carried by the dial and fitting the casing and divided horizontally to form a plurality of ring members detachably connected together, a projection extending inward from each member and spaced apart oircumferentially, a plurality of shaft locking devices, each device being actuated by one of the aforesaid projections to release such devices, and means for returning the locking members to their locked position actuated by the initially operated pro- 1 ection.

5. In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft having a longitudinal slot therein, of a casing through which the shaftextends, a dial turnably mounted in the casing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the casing, a lockingpawl pivotally connected to each lever adjacent its free end and having a locking projection adapted to fit within the slot of the shaft, a leaf spring secured to one end of each locking pawl and bearing at its free end. against the corresponding lever to impart a forward swing to the pawl when released from the slot, means carried by the dial and located at different dial positions for, engagingeach lever by forward rotation of the dial, means for permitting the free return movement of such engaging means past the lever, and means operated by rearward rotation of the dial past its initial operating position for forcing the pawls back into their slot engaging position.

6. In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft having. a longitudinal slot therein, of a casing throughwhich the shaft extends, a dial turnably mounted in the casing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the casing, a locking pawl pivotally mounted upon each lever adjacent its free end and having a locking projection adapted to fit within the slot of the shaft, a leaf spring secured to one end ofeach locking pawl and bearing at its free end against the corresponding lever to impart a forward swing to the pawl when released from the slot, means carried by the dial and located at different dial positions for engaging each lever by forward rotation of the dial, means for permitting the free return movement of such engaging means past the lever, means operated by rearward rotation of the dial past its initial operating position for forcing the pawls back into their slot engaging position, and means operated by the continued forward movement of the dial for forcing the disengaged pawl back to its normal or looking position.

7 In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft having alongitudinal slot therein, of a casing through which the shaft eX- tends, a dial turnably mounted in the casing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the casing, a locking pawl pivotally mounted upon each lever adjacent its free end, and having a locking projection adapted to fit within the slot of the shaft, a

leaf spring secured to one end of each locking pawl and hearing at its free end against the corresponding lever to impart a forward swing to the pawl when released from the slot, means carried by the dial and located at different dial positions for engaging each lever by forward rotation of the dial, means for permitting the free return movement of such engaging means past the lever, a cam member pivoted within the casing adapted to be forced inward at its free end by the rotation of the dial either past its normal position or past its operative position, and means carried by such cam member for engaging the pawls to force them into their slot engaging position.

8. In a combination lock, the combination with a shaft having a longitudinal slot therein, of a casing through which the shaft extends, a dial turnably mounted in the casing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the casing, a locking pawl pivotally mounted upon each lever adjacent its free end and having a locking projection adapted to fit within the slot of the shaft, a leaf spring secured to one end of each locking pawl and hearing at its free end against the corresponding lever to impart a'forward swing to the pawl when released from the slot, a plurality of ring members carried by the dial, a member corresponding to each set of looking levers, a projection extending inwardly from each ring and spaced apart circumferentially each projection being adapted to engage a corresponding lever when carried clockwise by the dial, means for permitting the projections to pass the lever in a counterclockwise movement of the dial, a pivoted member provided with cam surfaces with which the initially operated projection e11- gages to force such member inward and into engagement with the locking pawls to force them to their locking position after being previously disengaged when the dial is turned counter-clockwise from its normal position or clockwise from its final operative position.

RICHARD JOHN SOUTHCOTT. 

